Accessibility statement, including a list of pages with links for screen reader users
|
Accessibility statement, including a list of pages with links for screen reader users |
"Help in on the line" HHS poster
Federal Departments Contact Info & Procedures
DHS National Emergency Resource Directory
Resources to work with Survivors who are Deaf
10 Ways to help Katrina Survivors
TASC: Checklist to Think About in Your Interactions with Katrina Evacuees Coming to Your State
Statistics - Number of People with Disabilities in Mississippi & Louisiana (opens new page)
Statistics:Estimating Distribution of Evacuees from the New Orleans Area As a Result of Hurricane Katrina (opens new page)
URGENT
REQUEST FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Dr. Margaret Giannini, Director of the US Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) Office on Disability needs our help to locate hurricane survivors who
were placed in nursing homes and other restrictive facilities. We are all
aware that people were transferred from many shelters to nursing homes and
institutions across the US over the past four weeks, but there are no records
of who these people are or where they went. HHS is enlisting our help so they
can work with HUD to get these folks back out of the nursing homes and into
temporary housing in the community. Nursing homes have 90 days to bill for
their care so it’s not likely these people can be tracked through nursing
home census data at this time.
Please include all people who were previously in community based residential
settings like group homes, in addition to those who were living independently
who were placed in ICFs and SNFs anywhere across the country. Early reports
indicate that people were scattered broadly in reopened institutions, empty
nursing home beds and other restrictive environments.
We have their attention and we are in a position to insure that no one gets
left behind. As solutions are created for hurricane survivors, so can those
solutions work for others! Please send specific information about hurricane
survivors who you know to be in nursing homes, institutions and all other
examples that would indicate that someone was evacuated or transferred to
a restrictive environment. This is also a good opportunity to keep the focus
on many, many other who have been waiting for community based services for
years.
Please send all information to: margaret.giannini@hhs.gov,
and please cc mroth@spinalcord.org by COB on Monday, September
26th. Please continue to send information after that deadline, but do not
delay sending what you do know now because a report will be sent tomorrow
at COB with temporary housing discussions beginning immediately.
Thank you!
Marcie Roth
Hurricane
Katrina
HHS "Help is on the Line" Poster/Flyer
[HTML version] [PDF]
This poster has been designed so that it can be customized with local telephone
contact information for HHS programs that do not use one central help line.
Here's how to customize either the HTML version or the PDF of the poster for
your local needs:
* The file has three drop-down lists which must be used to customize the poster
for local use. All three have the title "(SELECT STATE FROM DROP-DOWN
LIST)." These three drop-down lists contain current help line numbers
for: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and the State
Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
* For each list, click on the right-hand side of the list (look for a down
triangle), scroll to the information for your state, and then select the state
with a mouse click.
* If local phone number information changes, you may manually edit the phone
information. Formatting should be maintained (i.e., full state name, dashes
for phone numbers, 800 numbers to start with a "1-", etc.).
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
1. Log No.: ACYF-CB-IM-05-09
2. Issuance Date: 09/27/05
3. Originating Office: Children’s Bureau
4. Key Words: Title II CAPTA, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
Information Memorandum
To:
Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) grantees; State and Territorial
Agencies Administering or Supervising the Administration of title
IV-B and title IV-E of the Social Security Act
Subject:
Title II CAPTA and Hurricane Relief Efforts
Legal and Related References:
The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003; title II of the Child
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) (42 U.S.C. 5116 et seq.), as amended
by Pub. L. 108-36, enacted June 25, 2003.
Purpose:
To remind states of flexibility in the title II program to provide family
support and child abuse prevention services that may help them serve vulnerable
children and families who have been affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Information: We want to remind states of the areas in which title II of CAPTA
funds may assist them in their efforts to protect and support hurricane victims.
The 2005 CBCAP Program Instruction (ACYF-CB-PI-05-03) provides information
on the use of funds for the program and overall purpose of the grant to “…support
community-based efforts to develop, operate, expand, and enhance…initiatives
aimed at the prevention of child abuse and neglect….” Families
and children affected by natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita are a vulnerable population that can be served by CBCAP. Below we highlight
specific areas and allowable use of CBCAP funds that may be particularly useful
to states that have been affected by the hurricanes.
Section 201(b) of CAPTA provides that funds made available to states under
the CBCAP program can be used for the following activities related to hurricane
relief efforts (see pages 5-6 of ACYF-CB-PI-05-03):
(1) Developing, operating, expanding and enhancing community-based, prevention-focused
programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent
child abuse and neglect (through networks where appropriate) that are accessible,
effective, and culturally appropriate, and build upon existing strengths that
--
(A) Offer assistance to families;
(B) Provide early, comprehensive support for parents;
(D) Increase family stability;
(E) Improve family access to other formal and informal resources and opportunities
for assistance available within communities;
(F) Support the additional needs of families with children with disabilities
through respite care and other services;
(H) Provide referrals to early health and developmental services.
(2) Fostering the development of a continuum of preventive services for children
and families through state and community-based public and private partnerships.
Inquiries to:
Melissa Lim Brodowski, CBCAP Federal Project Officer, phone: (202) 205-2629
or email: mbrodowski@acf.hhs.gov
ACF Regional Offices
/s/
Wade F. Horn, Ph.D.
Assistant Secretary
for Children and Families
ILRU Disaster Management
Information Line for CILs and SILCs
(866) 203-5111
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Central Time
Centers and SILCs are encouraged to visit the ILRU home page for links to
disaster related information and resources. ILRU has added the following links:
Archive of Web cast on Disaster Relief Strategies for Individuals with Disabilities
http://www.ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/archive/2005/09-14-LF.html
ILRU Equipment and Supplies Exchange Message Boards for CILs and Other Organizations-Post
Your Needs and What You Have to OFFER http://ilru.virtualhosts.com/cgi-bin/forum/board_show.pl?bid=31
ILRU News Journal with Latest Updates on Hurricane Relief for People with
Disabilities
http://www.livejournal.com/users/ilru_il/
Dr.
Margaret Giannini, Director of the US HHS Office on Disability
I need as much information as possible in the following categories:
Location (town, state)
Current living situation
Disability
Immediate needs (medicine, food, water, sterile catheters, DME, wheelchairs,
airmattresses, seat cushions, for example)
Additional needs (accessible housing, special education services, for example)
Age
Single or family/companions
--
If you are a CIL or other service provider, what is your current situation?
What staffing and other resources (computers, cell/SAT phones for example)
are needed?
Address, phone, email
Anything else that will help decision makers to address the disability specific
needs of survivors
--
Please Email Do not email this website.
301 990-6559 or 301 717-7447.
If you need to reach Dr. Giannini, you can call her at 202-205-1016
CEPIN, will work with
organizations and agencies to ensure that people who are deaf
or hard of hearing get the services they need, especially hearing aids
or other devices vital to effective communication. At a time when their lives
are turned upside down, we hope the last thing worry about is how they will
be able to communicate with others." NVRC may be contacted during regular
business hours at: http://www.nvrc.org
(703) 352-9056 TTY
(703) 352-9055 Voice
(703) 352-9058 FAX
Email
10 Ways to Help Katrina Survivors
1. Let people in need know they should apply
for assistance through FEMA, state their specific needs and identify their
disability.
Financial:
-1/800-621-FEMA
1/800-462-9029
1/800-462-7585 TDD/TYY
http://www.fema.gov/register.shtm
(on-line registration)
-Unemployment, http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/
Other Resources:
-Education, http://www.ed.gov/news/hurricane/index.html
-HUD, 1-888-297-8685
-Medicaid & Medicare, http://www.cms.hhs.gov/katrina/
-All Government Benefits, http://www.govbenefits.gov
-Local Resources, United Ways 211, http://www.211.org/
2. Send a message and/or card to ILCs and other disability rights groups in
effected areas like AL (example, Mobile), LA (statewide, no snail mail in
New Orleans), MS (statewide) & TX (example, Houston). If offering money,
items or time, be specific. ILCs at
http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html
3. Coordinate your efforts at all levels.
FEDERAL LEVEL
Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and
Individuals with Disabilities,
http://www.dhs.gov/disabilitypreparedness.html
Daniel W. Sutherland, Chairperson
Daniel.Sutherland@dhs.gov
(202) 772-9816
Olegario "Ollie" D. Cantos VII, Chairperson TA and Outreach
Subcommittee
Ollie.Cantos@usdoj.gov
(202) 616-7920
GULF STATES
AL
Barbara F. Crozier
Executive Director
Governor's Office On Disability (GOOD)
334-353-4663
barbara.crozier@good.alabama.gov
Birmingham
Daniel G. Kessler
Executive Director
Birmingham Independent Living Center
205-251-2223, ext. 112
205-254-7333, TDD
dgkessle@bellsouth.net
http://www.birminghamilc.org
Mobile
Shannon Shelley-Tremblay
251-460-0301, 108
shannons@ilcmobile.org
LA
Matthew J. Rovira, Executive Director
Governor's Office of Disability Affairs
225-219-7550
225-978-0905
Matt.Rovira@GOV.STATE.LA.US
Baton Rodge
Sandee Winchell
Executive Director
Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council
225-342-6804
225-938-9056
225-342-1970 Fax
swinchel@dhh.la.gov
http://www.laddc.org
Lafayette
Nell Hahn
Advocacy Center
(337) 237-7380 ext. 11
(337) 237-0486 (fax)
nhahn@advocacyla.org
nhahn2@cox.net
Shreveport
Mack J. Marsh, Jr.
Independent Living Services Director
New Horizons Independent Living Center
318-671-8131 ext 108
318-688-7823, Fax
mmarsh@nhilc.org
http://www.nhilc.org
MS
Christy Dunaway
Executive Director
LIFE of Mississippi, Inc.
601-969-4009
601-506-6454
lifeofms@aol.com
Mary Throupe
Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities
(601) 969-0601 (V/TTY) 800-721-7255
mary@mscoalition.com
theopendoor@mscoalition.com
http://www.mscoalition.com
TX
Houston
Sandra Bookman
Executive Director
Houston Center for Independent Living
713-974-4621 Voice/TTY
713-569-4086
713-974-6927 FAX
houstoncil@yahoo.com
http://www.coalitionforbarrierfreeliving.com
Elaine Roberts
Advocacy Inc.
eroberts@Advocacyinc.org
David Truran
Advocacy, Inc.
713-974-7691
dtruran@Advocacyinc.org
Arkansas, LA, & TX
ILRU
713-520-0232 (Voice/TTY)
ilru@ilru.org
http://www.ilru.org
OTHER STATES
National Council on Independent Living with TA from ILRU
John Lancaster, Executive Director
john@ncil.org
(877) 525-3409
http://www.ncil.org/
list of local ILCs at
http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html
ILRU
2323 S. Shepherd, Suite 1000
Houston, Texas 77019
713-520-0232 (Voice/TTY)
713-520-5785 (Fax)
600-949-4232, if in Arkansas, LA or TX
ilru@ilru.org
http://www.ilru.org
4. Help build disability specific web sites, for example
- http://www.katrina-la.net/ , Karen
Lagrange, karen@kalidust.com,
337-407-9201
- http://katrinadisability.info/,
Susan Fitzmaurice,
katrinadisability.info@gmail.com
- http://www.ilru.org
- http://thearclink.org/news/article.asp?ID=710
- http://www.ndrn.org/katrinalinks.htm
5. Offer to provide housing, transportation, food, personal items, etc.,
register at
- https://www.swern.gov/emergency/asset_index.php
- http://www.katrina-la.net/, disability
specific
- http://katrinadisability.info/,
disability specific
6. Offer Equipment & Supplies
- http://www.fodac.org, Paul Timmons, 843-817-2651,
presslord@aol.com
7. Volunteer to assist, register at
- http://www.katrinadisability.info,
scroll down, click on Disability Experts box
- https://volunteer.ccrf.hhs.gov/
8. Support disability specific Funds, for example
-AIDS, https://secure.ga3.org/03/KatrinaEmergencyFund
-ARC, http://www.thearc.org/
-Autism, http://www.talkautism.com/
-CA Foundation for ILCs, http://www.cfilc.org/site
-Diabetes, http://www.cwdfoundation.org/Supplies.htm
-Easter Seals, http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer
-Families Helping Families, LA,
http://www.familieshelpingfamilies.net/home.htm
-Family Voices, http://www.familyvoices.org/
-MS, http://www.nationalmssociety.org/hurricane.asp
-NAMI, http://www.nami.org or at any Wachovia bank nationwide
(Account #200024603407
-National Down Syndrome, http://www.ndss.org/
-NCIL, http://www.ncil.org
-Spina Bifida, http://www.sbaa.org
-TASH, http://tash.org/
-UCP, Houston, http://www.ucphouston.org/
9. Review NCD's, http://www.ncd.gov, recommendations,
send your social
change ideas to Hilary C. Styron, 202-293-5960, 202-955-6320.
StyronH@nod.org
10. Assure people everything will be alright.
-Crisis Counseling, 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
-Children, Connie Wells, Family Voices, cjwells@sprynet.com
UNITED
STATES CODE
TITLE 42.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHAPTER 68--DISASTER RELIEF
SUBCHAPTER IV--MAJOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
{408} 5174. Temporary housing assistance
(a) Provision of temporary housing
(1) In general
The President may--
(A) provide, by purchase or lease, temporary housing (including unoccupied
habitable dwellings), suitable rental housing, mobile homes, or other readily
fabricated dwellings to persons who, as a result of a major disaster, require
temporary housing; and (B) reimburse State and local governments
in accordance with paragraph (4) for the cost of sites provided under
paragraph (2).
(2) Mobile home site
(A) In general
Any mobile home or other readily fabricated dwelling provided
under this section shall whenever possible be located on a site
which--
(i) is provided by the State or local government;
and
(ii) has utilities provided by the State or local
government, by the owner of the site, or by the occupant who
was displaced by the major disaster.
(B) Other sites
Mobile homes and other readily fabricated dwellings may be located
on sites provided by the President if the President determines
that such sites would be more economical or accessible
than sites described in subparagraph (A).
(3) Period
Federal financial and operational assistance under this section
shall continue for not longer than 18 months after the date of the major
disaster declaration by the President, unless the President determines
that due to extraordinary circumstances it would be in the
public interest to extend such 18-month period.
(4) Federal share
The Federal share of assistance under this section shall be 100
percent; except that the Federal share of assistance under
this section for construction and site development costs (including
installation of utilities) at a mobile home group site shall be 75 percent
of the eligible cost of such assistance. The State or local government
receiving assistance under this section shall pay any cost which is
not paid for from the Federal share.(b) Temporary mortgage and rental payments
The President is authorized to provide
assistance on a temporary basis in the form of mortgage
or rental payments to or on behalf of individuals and families who, as a result
of financial hardship caused by a major disaster, have received written notice
of dispossession or eviction from a residence by reason of a foreclosure of
any mortgage or lien, cancellation of any contract of sale, or termination
of any lease, entered into prior to such disaster. Such assistance shall
be provided for the duration of the period of financial hardship but not to
exceed 18 months.
(c) In lieu expenditures
In lieu of providing other types of temporary
housing after a major disaster, the President is authorized
to make expenditures for the purpose of repairing or restoring to a habitable
condition owner-occupied private residential structures made uninhabitable
by a major disaster which are capable of being restored quickly to a habitable
condition.
(d) Transfer of temporary housing
(1) Direct sale to occupants
Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, any temporary housing acquired by purchase may be sold
directly to individuals and families who are occupants of temporary housing
at prices that are fair and equitable, as determined by the President.
(2) Transfers to states, local governments, and voluntary
organizations
The President may sell or otherwise make available temporary
housing units directly to States, other governmental entities, and
voluntary organizations. The President shall impose as a condition of
transfer under this paragraph a covenant to comply with the provisions of
section 308 [42 U.S.C. 5171] requiring nondiscrimination in occupancy
of such temporary housing units. Such disposition shall be limited to units
purchased under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section and to the
purposes of providing temporary housing for disaster victims in major disasters
or emergencies.(e) Notification
(1) In general
Each person who applies for assistance under this section shall
be notified regarding the type and amount of any assistance for which such
person qualifies. Whenever practicable, such notice shall be provided
within 7 days after the date of submission of such application.
(2) Information
Notification under this subsection shall provide information
regarding--
(A) all forms of such assistance available;
(B) any specific criteria which must be met to qualify for
each type of assistance that is available;
(C) any limitations which apply to each type of assistance;
and
(D) the address and telephone number of offices responsible for responding
to--
(i) appeals of determinations of eligibility for assistance;
and
(ii) requests for changes in the type or amount of assistance
provided.
(f) Location
In providing assistance under this section,
consideration shall be given to the location of and travel
time to--
(1) the applicant's home and place of business;
(2) schools which the applicant or members of the applicant's
family who reside with the applicant attend; and
(3) crops or livestock which the applicant tends in the course
of any involvement in farming which provides 25 percent or more of
the applicant's annual income.
DHS
National Emergency Resource Registry Activated
The Department of Homeland Security is coordinating response efforts to provide
necessary assistance to communities affected by Hurricane Katrina. The Homeland
Security Operations Center (HSOC) serves as the nations nerve center for information
sharing and domestic incident management. At the request of the HSOC the
National Emergency Resource Registry has
been activated.
The NERR stands ready to assist the coordination efforts between the resources
that are needed and the resources that may be available from the private and
public sectors. If you or your organization / agency / corporation have resources
that may be made available to the response agencies, please list them in this
Resource Registry. https://www.swern.gov/
What's Needed Most?
Housing
Transporatation
Emergency Supplies
Important
federal departments and agencies Hurricane Katrina recovery
information and contacts pertinent to individuals with disabilities are
listed below. Updates will be provided as more information becomes
available.
Hurricane Katrina Information
1. FEMA disaster relief assistance
Every hurricane survivor with a disability MUST register to be able to
receive the full range of federal disaster relief assistance. Registrants
MUST make it clear that they have a disability or chronic health care need.
FEMA registration numbers.
1/800-621-FEMA
1/800-462-9029
1/800-462-7585 TDD/TYY
http://www.fema.gov/about/process/ (For on-line
registration)
2. Federal representative contact information
Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals
with Disabilities (ICC)
http://www.dhs.gov/disabilitypreparedness.html
Chair - Department of Homeland Security, Office for Civil Rights and Civil
Liberties
Daniel W. Sutherland
Daniel.Sutherland@dhs.gov
(202) 772-9816
Claudia L. Gordon
Claudia.Gordon@dhs.gov
(202) 358-2392 (TTY)
(202) 772-0910 (Voice)
Olegario "Ollie" D. Cantos VII, Chairperson - ICC Technical
Assistant and
Outreach Subcommittee
Ollie.Cantos@usdoj.gov
(202) 616-7920
REGION 4 & 6 (AL, LA, MS & TX)
Lex Frieden, Chairperson - National Council on Disability (NCD)
lfrieden@bcm.tmc.edu
(713) 520-0232, Ext. 124
http://www.ilru.org/html/whatsnew/announcements/katrina.html
3. Emergency Disaster Assistance for Hurricane Katrina Victims
Contact information for Hurricane Katrina Disaster Victims who are residents
of AL, LA or MS, worked as an employee, or were self-employed, in any one
or
more of the three states, and are calling from a different state:
If the caller indicates they are not in Alabama, Louisiana, or Mississippi:
. To file a Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Disaster Unemployment
Assistance (DUA) claim when the individual indicates they worked in Alabama
use the phone numbers provided by Alabama:
. To file a UI or DUA claim they can call 1-866-234-5382
to file a
claim.
. To file a claim in Alabama using the TYY/TDD
call 1-800-499-2035.
. For general questions about UI or DUA in Alabama
call
1-800-361-4524.
. To file a UI or DUA claim when the individual indicates
they worked
or were self-employed in Louisiana or when the individual indicates they
worked or were self-employed in Mississippi they should contact the state
where they are currently located. The state where the individual is
at the
time of the call will take an Interstate claim.
o Applicants can access http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/
which
provides a map of state web sites providing information about how claims are
taken in that state. This site also provides access to America's Service
Locator which provides office locations based upon the applicant's current
zip code.
Contact information for Hurricane Katrina Disaster Victims - Caller is a
resident of AL, LA or MS, worked as an employee, or was self-employed, in
any one or more of the three states, and is calling from within AL, LA, or
MS
Resource: Contact information for Disaster Victims - Alabama
. If the caller indicates they are in Alabama,
or they worked or
were self-employed in Alabama:
. To file a UI or DUA claim they can call
1-866-234-5382 to file a
claim.
. To file a claim in Alabama using the TYY/TDD
call 1-800-499-2035.
. For general questions about UI or DUA in Alabama
call
1-800-361-4524.
Resource: Contact information for Disaster Victims - Louisiana
. If the caller indicates they are in Louisiana:
. To file a UI or DUA claim they can use the Internet
at
www.LAWORKS.net or they may go to a One-Stop Career Center (use the service
locator to find the Center nearest the individual's residence).
. An 800 number is being established for people who are
filing as a
direct result of Hurricane Katrina. The toll-free number is 1-800-818-7811
and it will be available only from 3 p. m. until 7 p. m. on September 6.
Call times will be expanded.
. All other customers can call 1-866-783-5567
or 1-200-LAHELPU.
Resource: Contact information for Disaster Victims - Mississippi
. If the caller indicates they are in Mississippi:
. To file a UI or DUA claim they can go to a One-Stop
Career Center.
. An 800 number is being established for Mississippi
(not yet
operational).
Additional Information
Individuals who need verification of their earnings for DUA claims can
contact the IRS at 1-866-562-5227 from 7:00 a.m. through 10:00 p. m. EDT to
request this information.
TASC:
Checklist to Think About in Your Interactions with Katrina
Evacuees Coming to Your State and others Impacted by the Storm
This document has been put together by TASC at NDRN staff based on
information provided by P&A staff, as well as various coalition efforts
both inside and outside of the disability community. It is intended to
act as a checklist to assist you in your efforts to work with people
coming into your states.
What do you need to do?
Outreach
1. Identify Shelters Housing Evacuees: those run by relief agencies
such as the Red Cross and other groups, such as churches; schools;
hotels/motels; military bases; nursing homes; homeless shelters; existing
or closed institutions; disability service providers; etc. In some areas,
special needs shelters may be set up specifically for people with
disabilities. Many of those running the general shelters and even the
special needs shelters will have no knowledge of the needs of individuals
with mental illness, cognitive, or sensory disabilities.
2. Get your P&A on the resource/call list for shelters; local and
state government; and all offices of state and Congressional
representatives, should they get calls from people with disabilities in
your state.
3. Send staff out to shelters to identify people with disabilities
in particular the newly disabled and to offer the P&A as a resource for
people with disabilities. Have some basic idea of the role you want to
play before sending staff to the shelter.
What do they need? Can you help them reconstruct their records?
What can you help them with? What other resources are available
in your community?
4. In your outreach efforts, be prepared to address the needs of
individuals in the shelters whose primary language is something other
than English.
Access to Shelters
1. Develop a letter explaining who you are, what services you offer
and your access authority to provide to shelter officials, individuals
within the shelters, and other agencies.
2. Notify NDRN about any issues or problems that arise.
Information and Referral
Local Resources
1. Develop a list of local resources that
people with disabilities
can be referred to on all the issues identified below. Consider sharing
these resources with those running the shelters, other government
agencies or organizations providing services to the evacuees.
Issues Identified:
1. Medicaid
HHS has issued a policy statement allowing people to use their
Medicaid cards in other states. HHS asked pharmacies to fill 30-day
prescriptions without requiring a new prescription but with the empty
prescription bottle.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lifted its ban
on reimbursing non-certified Medicaid providers, which includes some
people that may have been decertified for good reason. For CMS policy
statement see:http://www.cms.hhs.gov/katrina/.
2. FEMA Benefits
Every hurricane survivor should be encouraged to include
information regarding disabilities or chronic health care needs on their
FEMA applications in order to receive the full range of federal disaster
relief assistance available to them. More information on applying for
FEMA benefits can be found at http://www.fema.gov/about/process/.
FEMA officials appear to only be working in Red Cross shelters
and not going to the many privately operated shelters in churches, etc.
Thus people at other shelters cannot apply for FEMA assistance unless
they go to the Red Cross shelter, which raises issues of transportation,
etc. Some United Way volunteers are taking FEMA forms to other shelters.
FEMAs applications for assistance ask for a permanent address to
which checks and other information can be sent. Some states have set up
PO boxes or drop boxes for evacuees to use.
3. Keeping families together and special needs shelters
A number of P&As are reporting that families are being split up.
In areas with special need shelters or where people are being sent to
hospitals or other institutions, family members are not always able to
stay together.
4. Unemployment benefits
Each state administers its own Unemployment Insurance program and
people who worked for long enough and lost their jobs as a result of
Hurricane Katrina will usually be eligible for regular Unemployment
Insurance or Disaster Unemployment Assistance.
The following is basic contact information for applying. All
three states have internet filing. Alabama also had in place a telephone
claim filing system before Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana and Mississippi
had required internet or in person application filing but appear to have
implemented telephone systems. IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THEY ARE TTY ACCESSIBLE.
If the person worked as an employee,or was self-employed in AL, LA or MS
and is still in AL, LA, or MS.
In Alabama call 1-866-234-5382; TYY/TDD call 1-800-499-2035 to file a
claim. For general questions about UI or DUA in Alabama call
1-800-361-4524. Alabama UI website:http://dir.alabama.gov/uc/
In Louisiana to file a UI or DUA claim they can use the Internet at
www.LAWORKS.net or they may go to a
One-Stop Career Center (use the
service locator to find the Center nearest the individual's residence).
An 800 number is being established for people who are filing as a direct
result of Hurricane Katrina. The toll-free number is 1-800-818-7811.
Call times will be expanded. All other customers can call 1-866-783-5567.
Louisiana UI website: http://www.ldol.state.la.us
In Mississippi to file a UI or DUA claim they can go to a One-Stop Career
Center or call 1-888-844-3577 between the hours of 7:00 am and 6:30 pm
seven days a week. Mississippi UI website:http://mdes.ms.gov/wps/portal/#null
Relocated residents of AL, LA or MS, worked as an employee, or were
self-employed, in any one or more of the three states, and are calling
from a different state: If they worked in Alabama: call 1-866-234-5382; TYY/TDD
1-800-499-2035 to
file a claim. For general questions about UI or DUA in Alabama call
1-800-361-4524. If they worked or were self-employed in Louisiana or Mississippi
they
should contact the state where they are currently located. The state
where the individual is at the time of the call will take an Interstate
claim.
Applicants can access http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/ which provides a
map of state web sites providing information about how claims are taken
in that state. This site also provides access to America's Service
Locator which provides office locations based upon the applicant's
current zip code.
Individuals who need verification of their earnings for DUA claims can
contact the IRS at 1-866-562-5227 from 7:00 a.m. through 10:00 p. m. EDT
to request this information
5. Food Stamps
Some States are giving reciprocity for food stamps.
6. Social Security
All offices are taking walk-ins however transportation remains a
major. Some P&As are working with the shelter officials to get SSA to
come to shelters. SSA also appears to still be requiring a picture IDs, which
many
people do not have.
7. Durable Medical Equipment
People being separated from their wheelchairs.
We have heard of shelters not knowing what supplies are available
and how to get them to the people who need them.
Work with disability organizations in your area to identify
resources available. For instance, the Paralyzed Veterans of America
(http://www.pva.org/aboutPVA/contactephone.htm)
has wheelchairs
available.
8. Public Housing and Section 8
HUD has sent guidance to Public Housing Authorities saying that
HUDs first priority is to help existing public housing and voucher
(Section 8) tenants who were affected by Hurricane Katrina. After that
need is met, HUD says PHA can help others who were not in public housing
or had Section 8. PHAs are supposed to help families who had been in
public housing or had Vouchers (Section 8) who arrive without
documentation to verify they were prior PHA tenants or Voucher recipients
through HUD databases (Real Estate Assessment Center- REAC).
This guidance does not have any discussion of disability-related issues,
such as assignment to accessible units, Voucher extensions to allow
people with disabilities longer to find accessible housing and the
possibility of higher rent levels but there is older HUD guidance
supporting these accommodations.
9. Other Housing Issues
Tenants in privately owned HUD subsidized housing. Persons who
have been certified by FEMA as being displaced from their housing and are
eligible for housing assistance under FEMA rules may be moved to the top
of waiting lists for Section 221(d) and 236 subsidized housing projects.
See, HUD PIH 04-22.
Low Income Tax Credit Properties The Treasury Department and the
IRS are waiving the low-income housing tax credit rules that prohibit
owners of low-income housing from providing housing to victims of
Hurricane Katrina who do not qualify as low-income. The action will
expand the availability of housing for disaster victims and their families.
Rural Development Housing Like HUD, USDA Rural Development has
advised that existing tenants in uninhabitable Rural Development funded
housing may apply at any Rural Development financed property as a
displaced tenant. In accordance with 7 CFR 3560.154(g)(2)(ii) they will
be placed, first come-first served on the waiting list. They would then
be offered any vacant unit or the next available unit if no vacancies
exist.
HUD had allowed Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and subsidized
housing providers to allocate certain properties for the elderly. P&As
may want to approach their PHAs about suspending the allocation plans to
make subsidized housing providers accept more people with disabilities
(rather than only the elderly under current rules).
Homeowners should get mortgage payment relief.
Temporary housing in HUD-owned, single-family houses and
multifamily housing should match people who need accessible housing to
whatever accessible units there are. If HUD spends money to re-open
closed units, Section 504 of Rehab Act requires that at least a minimal
number of units be made accessible for people with disabilities. At
least 5 percent or at minimum one unit accessible for mobility impaired
and 2 percent or at minimum one unit for people with visual or hearing
disabilities.
Long-term assistance is going to be needed in terms of
transitioning to accessible and integrated environments, particularly
when new building is involved.
10. Education
Insuring services for students with disabilities who enter new
schools without copies of their IEPs. The U.S. Department of Education
has put out some vague information stating that school systems will need
to relax their own standards a little bit. However, to date, TASC/NDRN
is not aware of any concrete guidance from the U.S. Department of
Education regarding this issue. TASC/NDRN has contacted the Department
for further information in this area and will update the Network as
information is relayed to us.
Getting services to children if they do not have a permanent
address (or are living in temporary settings). Families displaced by
Hurricane Katrina and attempting to register their children in the local
school where they are staying may look to the McKinney-Vento Education
for Homeless Children and Youth Program for guidance. NDRN/TASC provided
a Q&A on this issue in January 2004 that will be useful for those not
familiar with the Act. The Q & A can be found on NDRNs website at
http://www.ndrn.org/pub/qa/edu_homeless.pdf.
IDEA 2004 specifically
requires states to identify, evaluate, and provide special education and
related services, as appropriate, to children who are
homeless.
Obtaining supplies for the number of students entering existing
schools. The Department has developed a web link that lists various
organizations willing to donate school supplies to needy institutions
that experience an influx of students. The site is designed to allow
schools to indicate what supplies are needed and search for what supplies
companies have available. The link is: http://www.ed.gov/news/hurricane/index.html
11. Coordination with Other Disability Groups
Are you in touch with other groups in the state so that they
know when to contact you and so you can refer people to them, as appropriate?
12. State Legislative Needs
There are apparently issues with transferring Medicaid and other
cases to other states since both Louisiana and Mississippi computer
systems are down. Are there any statutory barriers in your state to
allowing non-residents to receive services under Medicaid or other state
programs?
Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) Access Requirements
1. Date Published: October 26, 2000
2. Response and Recovery Directorate Policy Number: 9525.5
3. Title: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Access Requirements
4. Purpose: This policy provides guidance in determining the eligibility of
costs for federally required ADA access compliance associated with Public
Assistance (PA) program grants.
5. Scope and Audience: This policy is applicable to all major disasters and
emergencies declared on or after the publication date of this policy. It is
intended for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel involved
in making eligibility determinations for the PA program.
6. Background:
A. In order to eliminate discrimination against individuals with disabilities,
Congress enacted the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) in 1990. Titles II and III of ADA are relevant to the PA program.
28 CFR Parts 35 and 36 provide further guidance.
B. 28 CFR addresses alteration to existing facilities. It defines an alteration
as a change to a place of public accommodation or a commercial facility that
affects or could affect the usability of the building or facility or any part
thereof. It further states that alterations include, but are not limited to,
remodeling, renovation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, historic restoration,
changes or rearrangement in structural parts of elements, and changes or rearrangement
in the plan configuration of walls and full-height partitions. For the purposes
of this FEMA policy on the application of the PA program to post-disaster
reconstruction, the phrase, "ADA relevant repair," will be used
in place of the word, "alteration."
C. The PA program, under Sections 406 (a) and 406(e)(1) of the Stafford Act,
authorizes FEMA to fund the cost of repairing, restoring, reconstructing,
or replacing a public or private nonprofit facility in conformance with applicable
codes, specifications and standards. This policy provides guidance on the
applicability of federal ADA provisions to PA grant projects.
7. Policy:
A. New Facilities. A new facility receiving FEMA funding and constructed as
a replacement facility, an improved project, or an alternate project must
be designed and constructed to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals
with disabilities.
1. Exceptions: There are two exceptions for a new facility.
a. For some eligible private nonprofit (PNP) applicants, exceptions are available
for installation of elevators in small buildings less than three stories or
less than 3,000 square feet per story. These exceptions do not apply to any
publicly owned or operated facility.
b. Full compliance is not required when an entity, private or
government, can demonstrate that it is structurally impractical to meet the
requirements.
2. Other than the exceptions in Paragraph 7.A.1), FEMA will fund compliance
with reasonable ADA requirements in a new facility. This is true even when
such compliance was absent in the original facility, as long as the applicant
was not cited for the violation.
3. A new facility that is funded as an improved or an alternate project is
limited to the eligible funding for the original facility even though the
new facility might have to comply with additional ADA requirements.
B. Existing Facilities. When ADA relevant repairs are made to any area of
an existing facility, they must be done to meet the needs of disabled individuals.
Only ADA relevant repairs trigger accessibility requirements; not all repairs
are ADA relevant repairs.
1. ADA relevant repair: An ADA relevant repair is a repair to a damaged facility
that affects or could affect the usability of the facility by the disabled
(which is referred to as an "alteration" in the ADA).
a. Repairs of structural components of flooring, walls, partitions, or load-bearing
elements are considered ADA relevant repairs.
b. Alterations to windows, hardware, controls, electrical outlets, and signage
and repair of façades (such as dry wall, plaster, facial brick, etc.),
whether interior or exterior, are not considered ADA relevant repairs.
c. Items such as normal maintenance, re-roofing, painting or wallpapering,
asbestos removal, or changes to mechanical and electrical systems are not
considered ADA relevant repairs unless they affect the usability of, or access
to, an area containing a primary function.
2. Primary Function Areas. This area is where a major activity occurs for
which the facility is intended. Examples include the dining area of a cafeteria,
the meeting rooms of a conference center, and public offices providing governmental
services to the public. When ADA relevant repairs are made to the primary
function area of a facility, there are some special requirements and considerations:
a. ADA relevant repairs to the damaged primary function area must meet ADA
access requirements.
b. When ADA relevant repairs are made to a damaged primary function area,
the path of travel, and restrooms, telephones, drinking fountains and similar
service facilities serving the primary function area also must be made ADA
accessible to the maximum extent feasible (subject to the limitations in Paragraph
7.B.2)d)).
c. Path of Travel. The accessibility requirement includes a "path of
travel" to access the primary function area even though these areas may
not be damaged. A "path of travel" includes a continuous, unobstructed
way of pedestrian passage by means of which the repaired primary function
area may be approached, entered, and exited and which connects the repaired
primary function area with an exterior approach (including sidewalks, streets,
and parking areas, and other parts of the facility). The "path of travel"
also includes access to the service facilities (e.g., restrooms) serving the
primary function area.
d. Funding Limitations. Funding for providing an accessible path of travel
and accessible service facilities to a repaired primary function area may
not exceed 20% of the total cost associated with the repair of the primary
function area.
i. For calculation purposes, the total costs associated with repair of the
primary function area also include the repair costs of the roof, heating/air
conditioning/ventilating system, mechanical rooms, janitorial closets, locker
rooms, private offices directly associated with the repair of the primary
function area.
ii. When the funding of 20% is not adequate to meet ADA accessible path of
travel and service facility requirements, the ADA access must be made to the
maximum extent possible with the limited funds. Limited changes should be
made in the following order of priority: accessible entrance, accessible route
to the altered area, at least one accessible restroom for each sex or single
unisex restroom, phones, drinking fountain, and other elements such as parking,
storage, and alarms. See 28 CFR 36.403(g).
3. Non-primary Function Areas. If ADA relevant repairs are required during
the repair of parts of a facility other than the primary function areas, they
must be done to provide ADA access. However, these repairs do not trigger
the "path of travel and service facility" requirements like the
ADA relevant repairs to a primary function area do.
a. If ADA relevant repairs are made to damaged walls, stairs, corridors, restrooms,
etc. that also happen to provide access to and usability of the repaired primary
function area, the cost of those repairs are eligible costs as non-primary
function areas and are not charged against the 20% cap.
b. The costs of these repairs to non-primary function areas will not be added
to the base rate noted in Paragraph 7.B.2)d) when calculating the maximum
allowance for accessibility path of travel or service facility repairs.
C. Non-damaged areas. The non-damaged areas of a partially damaged facility
are not required by Federal law to be reconstructed for ADA access unless
they are the "path of travel or service facility" to a repaired
primary function area requiring ADA relevant repairs.
D. Legal Violations. If the applicant was notified of being in violation of
an ADA law or building code prior to the disaster and was required to bring
the facility into compliance, then triggered accessibility requirements related
to the violation will not be eligible costs.
E. Codes and Standards.
1. ADA accessibility requirements in this policy refer to federal requirements.
Costs for additional State and local ADA requirements may be eligible on a
case-by-case basis if they are found reasonable. In any event, path of travel
costs may not exceed 20% of the cost of repair to the primary function area.
2. The repair of existing facilities generally does not have to meet the codes
and standards for ADA compliance for new construction.
F. Ineligible Repairs: If the applicant triggers ADA requirements by engaging
in repairs that are not eligible for PA program funding, the cost of those
ADA changes are not eligible costs under the PA grant program.
G. Historic Preservation: There are some special provisions that apply when
a repair would "threaten or destroy the historic significance of qualified
historic buildings and facilities." Refer to Section 504(c) of the ADA
and 28 CFR 36.405 for guidance.
8. Supersession: Relevant provisions of previous public assistance policy
documents.
9. References: Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990; The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act,
93-288 as amended; and 44 CFR 206.226(b)(3).
10. Originating Office: Infrastructure Division, Response and Recovery Directorate.
11. Review Date: Five years from date of publication.
12. Signature: signed
Lacy E. Suiter
Executive Associate Director
Response and Recovery Directorate
13. Distribution: Regional Directors, Regional and Headquarters R&R Division
Directors.
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